Joint mechanism for structural members

ABSTRACT

A passage communication member is fitted in a first passage in a structural member, and has a head which is mounted in a slot in another structural member. The first passage in the structural member and a passage in the other structural member are held in communication with each other through a through hole that is defined in the passage communication member. Alternatively, a first engaging member is inserted in a recess defined in a structural member, and a second engaging member is retained in a slot in another structural member. When the first and second engaging members are coupled to each other by a fastening member, the structural members are firmly joined and fixed to each other.

This application is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 08/569,129,filed on Jan. 11, 1996, now abandoned, which was filed as PCTapplication PCT/JP94/01098 on Jul. 6, 1994.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a joint mechanism for joiningstructural members while keeping passages defined in the structuralmembers in communication with each other when the structural members areto be assembled into a structural assembly.

BACKGROUND ART

The applicant of the present application has proposed an actuator whichincludes a drive means such as a motor or the like and a movable memberthat is displaceable by the drive means, the drive means and the movablemember being accommodated in a recess in a structural member whichcomprises a substantially elongate columnar body, and also proposed astructural assembly (Japanese laid-open patent publications Nos.5-69352, 5-180295, 5-180296, and 5-180297). In the proposal, there hasbeen used a term "structural member" which represents a conceptincluding both an outer frame of an actuator and a columnar elongatemember. The term will be used below as meaning the same concept.

According to the technical ideas disclosed in the above publications, aplurality of structural members which are of substantially the sameshape may be assembled by joint mechanisms into a structural assemblythat has a desired function.

One example of the joint mechanisms disclosed in the above publicationsis a locking member 2 for joining structural members as shown in FIG. 1of the accompanying drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, one end of the lockingmember 2 is inserted into a hole 6 defined longitudinally in astructural member 4, and a head 8 on the other end of the locking member2 is loosely fitted in a slot 10 defined in another structural member4a. Then, a screw 14 is threaded through a plate 12 transversely intothe structural member 4 until a tip end 16 of the screw 14 is heldagainst a slanting surface 18 of a notch defined substantially centrallyin the locking member 2. The tip end 16 is of such a taperedconfiguration that when the screw 14 is threaded in, the tip end 16presses the slanting surface 18, displacing the locking member 2 in thedirection indicated by the arrow A in FIG. 3 of the accompanyingdrawings. When the locking member 2 is displaced in the directionindicated by the arrow A, the head 8 of the locking member 2 pulls aninner wall surface of the other structural member 4a also in thedirection indicated by the arrow A. As a result, the structural members4, 4a are fixedly joined to each other substantially perpendicularly toeach other as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings. Thelocking member 2 is normally biased in the direction indicated by thearrow B under resilient forces from a spring 19.

The present invention has been made in relation to the above proposals.It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved jointmechanism for joining structural members while keeping passages definedin the structural members in communication with each other.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a joint mechanismwhich joins structural members substantially in line or perpendicularlythrough slots defined longitudinally in the structural members, so thata structural assembly can simply be constructed of the joined structuralmembers.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a jointmechanism which is capable of joining structural members angularlymovably to each other at a freely selected angle between the joinedstructural members.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

With a joint mechanism for joining structural members according to thepresent invention, a passage communication member is fitted in a passagein one of the structural members, and has a head which is mounted in aslot in the other of the structural members. The passage in one of thestructural members and a passage in the other of the structural membersare held in communication with each other through a through hole that isdefined in the passage communication member. Alternatively, a firstengaging member is inserted in a recess defined in one of the structuralmembers, and a second engaging member is retained in a slot in the otherof the structural members. When the first and second engaging membersare coupled to each other by a fastening member, the structural membersare firmly joined and fixed to each other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional joint mechanismfor joining structural members;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of structural members that are fixedto each other by the joint mechanism shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical longitudinal cross-sectional view of the jointmechanism shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of structural members which arejoined to each other by a joint mechanism according to an embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line V--V of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the structural members which are joined to eachother by the joint mechanism shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an assembly of structural members joinedby joint mechanisms according to the embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of structural members which are joined toeach other by a joint mechanism according to another embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the joint mechanism shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the joint mechanism shown inFIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along line XI--XI ofFIG. 8;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of structural members which are joined toeach other by a joint mechanism according to still another embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of the joint mechanism shown inFIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XIV--XIV of FIG. 12;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary longitudinal cross-sectional view of the jointmechanism shown in FIG. 12;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of structural members which are joined toeach other by a joint mechanism according to yet still anotherembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view of the joint mechanism shown inFIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is an exploded perspective view of the joint mechanism, asviewed from behind, shown in FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary plan view of the joint mechanism shown in FIG.16;

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX--XX of FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the joined structural members shown inFIG. 16, with various pipe joints connected thereto;

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of the joined structural members shown inFIG. 21, with an insert interposed between the structural members;

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of the insert shown in FIG. 22;

FIG. 24 is a fragmentary plan view of the structural members and theinsert shown in FIG. 22;

FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XXV--XXV of FIG. 24;

FIG. 26 is an exploded perspective view of a joint mechanism for joiningstructural members according to a further embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 27 is an exploded perspective view of the joint mechanism, asviewed from behind, shown in FIG. 26;

FIG. 28 is a side elevational view of structural members which arejoined to each other by the joint mechanism according to the embodimentshown in FIG. 26;

FIG. 29 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XXIX--XXIX of FIG.28;

FIG. 30 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the joint mechanism shownin FIG. 29 as it is tightened;

FIG. 31 is a vertical cross-sectional view of structural members whichare joined to each other by joint mechanisms shown in FIG. 28 which arepositioned respectively on upper and lower surfaces of one of thestructural members;

FIG. 32 is an exploded perspective view of a joint mechanism for joiningstructural members according to a yet still further embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 33 is a side elevational view of structural members which arejoined to each other by the joint mechanism shown in FIG. 32;

FIG. 34 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XXXIV--XXXIV of FIG.33;

FIG. 35 is a vertical cross-sectional view of structural members whichare joined to each other by joint mechanisms shown in FIG. 32 which arepositioned respectively on upper and lower surfaces of one of thestructural members;

FIG. 36 is an exploded perspective view of a joint mechanism for joiningstructural members according to another embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 37 is a side elevational view of structural members which arejoined to each other by the joint mechanism shown in FIG. 36;

FIG. 38 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XXXVIII--XXXVIII ofFIG. 37;

FIG. 39 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the joint mechanism as itis tightened from the condition shown in FIG. 38; and

FIG. 40 is a perspective view of a structural member with a slot thereinwhich is used as a wiring passage for a lead.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detailwith reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIG. 4, structural members 20, 20a are in the form ofsubstantially identical, elongate columnar bodies. The structural member20 has substantially identical slots 22 of substantially T-shaped crosssection which are defined respectively in outer side surfaces thereof.Since the structural members 20, 20a are substantially identical to eachother in structure, the structural member 20 will be described below,and the structural member 20a will not be described below.

Each of the slots 22 has inlet edges which have respective substantiallyV-shaped grooves 24 defined therein that extend along the slot 22. Asubstantially channel-shaped cover 23 is mounted in the slot 22 withteeth 25 of the cover 23 engaging in the respective V-shaped grooves 24.Each of the slots 22 has an enlarged portion 26 which is spread from theinlet edges in directions perpendicular to the axis of the structuralmember 20, and a cavity 28 which is constricted inwardly from theenlarged portion 26 and extends to a flat bottom 27. The structuralmember 20 also has a pair of substantially circular recesses 29a, 29b(mounting recesses) defined in its upper surface closely to respectiveopposite ends thereof and communicating with the slot 22 in the uppersurface.

The structural member 20 further includes a first passage 30 of largediameter defined therein which extends along the axis thereof, secondpassages 32a˜32d of small diameter defined therein near the four cornersthereof and extending in the longitudinal direction of the structuralmember 20, and third passages 34a˜34d defined therein which extendsalong the axis thereof, the third passages 34a˜34d being positionedbetween the first passage 30 and the second passages 32a˜32d. A plug 36(see FIG. 4) is mounted in an end of the structural member 20a andcloses the first passage 30. The structural member 20a has a hole 38(see FIG. 5) defined therein in communication with the first passage 30.

A joint mechanism for joining structural members according to anembodiment of the present invention includes a passage communicationmember 42 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) having a through hole 40 defined thereinwhich provides communication between the first passage 30 in thestructural member 20 and the first passage 30 in the other structuralmember 20a. As shown in FIG. 4, the joint mechanism also has a firstengaging member 44 inserted in the recess 29a (29b) in the structuralmember 20, a second engaging member 46 retained in one of the slots 22in the structural member 20a, and a bolt 48 interconnecting the firstengaging member 44 and the second engaging member 46. The structuralmembers 20, 20a are joined to each other by mounting the first engagingmember 44 in the structural member 20, mounting the second engagingmember 46 in the structural member 20a, and then coupling the firstengaging member 44 and the second engaging member 46 to each other withthe bolt 48.

The passage communication member 42 comprises a tubular body 50 fittedin the first passage 30 extending axially in the structural member 20,and a head 54 having a projection 52 fitted in the hole 38 in thestructural member 20a. The head 54 is of a substantially T shape and isfitted in the slot 22 in the structural member 20a. The tubular body 50and the head 54 are integrally formed with each other, and a seal 56 ismounted in an annular groove defined in the tubular body 50. An elasticseal 58 is mounted on a surface of the head 54 around the projection 52and held against an inner wall surface of the slot 22. Under theresiliency of the elastic seal 58, the head 54 is pressed toward thestructural member 20 to hold the passage communication member 42 in theslot 22 (see FIG. 5).

The first engaging member 44 has a substantially circular profilecomplementary in shape to the recesses 29a, 29b, and has a rectangularhole 60 defined therein and a screw hole 61 defined therein whichextends from the bottom of the rectangular hole 60 to an outer surfaceof the first engaging member 44. The second engaging member 46 has asubstantially T-shaped head 62 on one end thereof which is held in theslot 22 and a threaded hole 64 defined in an opposite end remote fromthe head 62 for receiving the bolt 48 therein. The first and secondengaging members 44, 46 should preferably be made of aluminum alloy,stainless steel, carbon steel, molybdenum steel, or the like, andmanufactured by precision casting, precision (cold) forging, lost-waxprocess, metal powder injection sintering, or the like. The first andsecond engaging members 44, 46 thus produced have a high strength,require no substantial subsequent machining, and are light in weight andlow in cost.

The joint mechanism according to this embodiment, which is basically ofthe above structure, operates as follows:

The substantially T-shaped head 54 of the passage communication member42 is inserted from an end of the structural member 20a into one of theslots 22 therein while the longitudinal axis of the head 54 is beingaligned with the longitudinal axis of the slot 22. After the head 54 isinserted, it is twisted about 90° into locking engagement with an innerwall surface of the slot 22, and the projection 52 is fitted into thehole 38 communicating with the first passage 30 (see FIG. 5). At thistime, the seal 58 around the projection 52 elastically presses the innerwall surface of the slot 22, securing retaining the substantiallyT-shaped head 54 in the slot 22. As a result, the passage communicationmember 42 is held in position in the slot 22 in the structural member20a, with the tubular body 50 projecting out of the slot 22. Then, asshown in FIG. 4, the other structural member 20 is orientedsubstantially perpendicularly to the structural member 20a, and an endof the structural member 20 is brought toward the structural member 20auntil the tubular body 50 is fitted into the first passage 30 in thestructural member 20. Therefore, the first passage 30 in the structuralmember 20a and the first passage 30 in the structural member 20 are heldin communication with each other through the through hole 40 in thepassage communication member 42. The seal 56 disposed around the passagecommunication member 42 fitted in the first passage 30 serves tohermetically seal the first passage 30.

Thereafter, the first engaging member 44 is inserted into thesubstantially circular recess 29a in the structural member 20, and thehead 62 of the second engaging member 46 is inserted from the end of thestructural member 20a into the slot 22 therein. Then, the bolt 48,placed in the slot 22 in the structural member 20, is threaded throughthe screw hole 61 in the first engaging member 44 into the threaded hole64 in the second engaging member 46. As the bolt 48 is threaded in, thehead 62 of the second engaging member 46 is pulled in the directionindicated by the arrow X in FIG. 6. As a consequence, the structuralmember 20a is displaced toward the structural member 20, and they arefirmly joined to each other.

The joint mechanism according to this embodiment is thus effective infirmly joining the structural members 20, 20a to each other whilekeeping the first passages 30 in the structural members 20, 20a incommunication with each other.

FIG. 7 shows an assembly of plural structural members joined by jointmechanisms according to this embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 7, the assembly, generally denoted by 100, comprises aplurality of structural members 102 which form an assembly skeleton, aplurality of actuators 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, aplurality of balancers 122, 124, 126 disposed parallel to the actuators106, 112, 116, first and second working tables 128, 130, a plurality ofworkpieces 132, a plurality of workpiece holding plates 134, a pluralityof movable bodies 136, 138, 140, 142, 144, 146, 148 combined with theactuators, a suction pad 150 and a mechanical hand 152 which function asworkpiece gripping means, and a plurality of cylinders 156 havingrespective projecting cylinder rods 154. Sequencers 158, 160 withprogramming boards, which function as actuator controllers, are mountedon the upper surface of one of the structural members 102. Some of thestructural members 102 are assembled in substantially rectangularstructures each including a diagonal structural member 102 whoseopposite ends are associated with joint members 162, 164 for reinforcingjoined regions. Some of the structural members 102 are joined in linewith each other by joint mechanisms 165, and some of the structuralmembers 102 are substantially perpendicularly joined by joint mechanisms167.

The first working table 128 will mainly be described in detail below.

The actuator 106 is vertically mounted on and substantiallyperpendicularly joined to the actuator 104 which is substantiallyhorizontally arranged. The balancer 122 is disposed parallel to theactuator 106. The actuator 106 serves to move the actuator 108 fixed tothe movable body 138 thereof in substantially vertical directions. Acylinder 166, to which the suction pad 150 is attached, is supported onthe movable body 140 of the actuator 108 connected perpendicularly tothe actuator 106. The cylinder 156 is attached to the movable body 142of the actuator 110, and the cylinder rod 154 thereof serves to positiona workpiece 132. Motor boxes 168 are disposed respectively in theactuators 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120 and haverespective upper surfaces lying flush with, but not projecting from, theupper surfaces of these actuators.

The first working table 128 operates as follows: Compressed air issupplied to the cylinder 166 coupled to the actuator 108 through fluidpassages (the first, second, and third passages 30, 32a˜32d, 34a˜34d) inthe structural members 102. Under the pressure of the suppliedcompressed air, the cylinder rod of the cylinder 166 is displaceddownwardly, and a workpiece 132 placed on the workpiece holding plate134 is attracted by the suction pad 150. Compressed air is suppliedagain to the cylinder 166, displacing the cylinder rod upwardly, and themovable body 136 of the actuator 104 is moved. The actuator 104 isinactivated when the workpiece 132 attracted by the suction pad 150reaches a position above a desired position on the workpiece holdingplate 134. Then, the movable body 138 of the actuator 106 is moveddownwardly until the attracted workpiece 132 is inserted into a desiredhole in the workpiece holding plate 134. At this time, the cylinder rod154 of the actuator 110 may be displaced to position the workpiece 132so that the workpiece 132 can reliably be inserted into the desired holein the workpiece holding plate 134.

The joint mechanism according to this embodiment is not limited to theapplication to the assembly 100, but may be applied to variousassemblies of structural members.

A joint mechanism for joining structural members according to anotherembodiment of the present invention will be described below withreference to FIGS. 8 through 11. Those parts of the joint mechanism andstructural members in this and other embodiments which are identical tothose in the previous embodiment are denoted by identical referencecharacters, and will not be described in detail below.

The joint mechanism according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 through11, which is used to join the structural members 20, 20a, comprises apair of substantially rectangular adapter blocks 238a, 238b ofsubstantially identical shape, a first knuckle 240 coupled to theadapter block 238a, a second knuckle 242 coupled to the adapter block238b, and a pair of washers 250a, 250b disposed between the first andsecond knuckles 240, 242 and supported on a shaft 248 extending throughholes 244, 246 that are defined in the first and second knuckles 240,242. Covers 252a, 252b are attached respectively to opposite sidesurfaces of the first knuckle 240. The rectangular adapter blocks 238a,238b have side surfaces shaped and dimensioned substantially identicallyto the ends of the structural members 20, 20a, and lying flush with thestructural members 20, 20a.

Each of the adapter blocks 238a, 238b has attachment holes 256a˜256ddefined therein near respective four corners thereof for insertion oflong screws 254 therethrough, and a through hole 260 definedsubstantially centrally therein for insertion of a bolt 258therethrough. When the long screws 254 are threaded through theattachment holes 256a˜256d of the adapter blocks 238a, 238b into thesecond passages 32a˜32d, which are internally threaded, defined in thecorners of the structural members 20, 20a that are held in line witheach other, the adapter blocks 238a, 238b are fastened to thecorresponding ends of the structural members 20, 20a.

The adapter blocks 238a, 238b have respective sets of straight ridges262 on their surfaces which are held against the ends of the structuralmembers 20, 20a. The ridges 262 are inserted in the respective cavities28 of the slots 22 in the structural members 20, 20a when the adapterblocks 238a, 238b are joined to the ends of the structural members 20,20a. The adapter blocks 238a, 238b also have respective substantiallycircular recesses 264 defined in their surfaces remote from the straightridges 262 for receiving the bottoms of the first and second knucklemembers 240, 242. The circular recess 264 has a bottom having a diameterlarge enough for the first knuckle 240 or the second knuckle 242 to beangularly moved in the circular recess 264 about the bolt 258. Theadapter blocks 238a, 238b also have threaded holes 266 defined in innerwalls of the recesses 264 and opening at side surfaces of the adapterblocks 238a, 238b. When setscrews 268 are threaded into the respectivethreaded holes 266, their tip ends are held against outer wall surfacesof the respective first and second knuckles 240, 242, holding the firstand second knuckles 240, 242 at angles which have been establisheddesirably with respect to the adapter blocks 238a, 238b.

The first knuckle 240 has a pair of substantially parallel spacedgrippers 270 such that the first knuckle 240 has a substantiallychannel-shaped cross section. The first knuckle 240 also has a threadedhole 272 defined in a bottom thereof for threaded insertion of the bolt258 therein. The second knuckle 242 has an attachment tongue 274 forbeing inserted between the grippers 270, and a threaded hole 272 definedin a bottom thereof for threaded insertion of the bolt 258 therein. Thegrippers 270 have the through holes 244 defined respectively therein,and the attachment tongue 274 has the through hole 246 defined therein.The shaft 248 extends through these through holes 244, 246 and alsothrough the washers 250a, 250b.

The first knuckle 240 and the second knuckle 242 are coupled to eachother for angular movement about the shaft 248. The first knuckle 240and the second knuckle 242 are also mounted on the respective adapterblocks 238a, 238b for angular movement about the bolts 258, and can befixed at a desired angle with respect to the respective adapter blocks238a, 238b by the setscrews 268.

The structural members 20, 20a and the adapter blocks 238a, 238b shouldpreferably be made of aluminum or aluminum alloy for smaller weight andhigher rigidity. The first and second knuckles 240, 242 shouldpreferably be made of aluminum alloy, stainless steel, carbon steel,molybdenum steel, or the like, and manufactured by precision casting,precision (cold) forging, lost-wax process, metal powder injectionsintering, or the like. The first and second knuckles 240, 242 thusproduced have a high strength, require no substantial subsequentmachining, and are light in weight and low in cost.

The joint mechanism according to this embodiment operates as follows andoffers the following advantages:

The surface of the adapter block 238b remote from the second knuckle 242is positioned and against the end of the structural member 20. Theridges 262 of the adapter block 238b are guided along the flat bottoms27 of the slots 22, and fitted into the cavities 28 thereof.

With the structural member 20 and the adapter block 238b being thus heldagainst each other, the long screws 254 are threaded through theattachment holes 256a˜256d of the adapter block 238b to fasten thestructural member 20 and the adapter block 238b to each other. Thejoined surfaces of the structural member 20 and the adapter block 238blie flush with each other (see FIG. 8). Specifically, the long screws254 extend through the respective attachment holes 256a˜256d of theadapter block 238b and are threaded into the second passages 32a˜32d inthe structural member 20.

Similarly, the surface of the adapter block 238a remote from the firstknuckle 240 is positioned and against the end of the other structuralmember 20a, and the long screws 254 are threaded through the attachmentholes 256a˜256d defined in the adapter block 238a near its four cornersto fasten the structural member 20a and the adapter block 238a to eachother. The order in which the adapter blocks 238a, 238b are attached tothe structural members 20, 20a is arbitrary, and either one of theadapter blocks 238a, 238b may be attached first to the corresponding oneof the structural members 20, 20a.

As shown in FIG. 8, the structural members 20, 20a thus joined to eachother can be angularly moved in the directions indicated by the arrows Xor Y relatively to each other about the shaft 248 by which the first andsecond knuckles 240, 242 are coupled. The angles at which the first andsecond knuckles 240, 242 and the adapter blocks 238a, 238b are attachedto each other may be varied using the setscrews 268 on the side surfacesof the adapter blocks 238a, 238b. Accordingly, it is possible to jointhe structural members 20, 20a to each other while they are beingtwisted a given angle in the directions indicated by the arrow Z.

A joint mechanism according to still another embodiment of the presentinvention is shown in FIGS. 12 through 15.

The joint mechanism according to this embodiment differs from the jointmechanism according to the preceding embodiment in that it joinsconfronting side surfaces of structural members to each other. The jointmechanism according to this embodiment can join the structural members20, 20a even when they extend parallel to each other.

Specifically, a pair of adapter blocks 280a, 280b is different in shapefrom the adapter blocks according to the preceding embodiment. Theadapter blocks 280a, 280b have recesses 284 in upper and lower surfacesthereof for installing respective hooks 282a, 282b therein (see FIG.13). The hooks 282a, 282b have substantially T-shaped tip ends which areinserted and held in the corresponding slots 22 of the structuralmembers 20, 20a. The hooks 282a, 282b are fixed to the upper and lowersurfaces of the adapter blocks 280a, 280b by screws 286. As shown inFIG. 15, when the hook 282a (282b) is to be securely placed in therecess 284 in the adapter block 280a, a tapered surface 285 of the hook282a (282b) is held against a tapered surface 287 of the recess 284. Thehook 282a is then pressed downwardly when the screw 286 is threaded andtightened. As a result, the hook 282a (282b) is displaced in thedirection indicated by the arrow C along the slanting tapered surface287, and fixedly held in the recess 284 (see FIG. 15).

As shown in FIG. 13, the adapter blocks 280a, 280b also have respectivesubstantially circular recesses 288 for receiving the bottoms of thefirst and second knuckle members 240, 242. The first and second knucklemembers 240, 242 are fastened to the respective adapter blocks 280a,280b by the bolts 258. The joint mechanism according to the presentembodiment is the same as the joint mechanism according to the precedingembodiment in that the first and second knuckle members 240, 242 areangularly movable in the recesses 288 in the directions indicated by thearrow Z about the bolts 258, can be retained in a desired angle withrespect to the adapter blocks 280a, 280b by setscrews 290, and can beangularly moved in the direction indicated by the arrow X or Yrelatively to each other about the shaft 248 by which the first andsecond knuckles 240, 242 are coupled (see FIG. 12).

For mounting the adapter blocks 280, 280a on the respective structuralmembers 20, 20a, the tip ends of the hooks 282a on the upper and lowersurfaces of the adapter blocks 280, 280a are inserted from ends of thestructural members 20, 20a into the structural members 20, 20a along theslots 22. Then, the screws 286 are tightened to secure the hooks 282a,282b in the adapter blocks 280a, 280b and fix the adapter blocks 280a,280b to the structural members 20, 20a with the hooks 282a, 282b thatare retained in the slots 22.

Alternatively, it may be possible to detach the hooks 282a, 282b inadvance from the adapter blocks 280a, 280b, insert the tip ends of thehooks 282a, 282b longitudinally into the slots 22, thereafter turn thehooks 282a, 282b about 90° until the tip ends of the hooks 282a, 282bextend perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the slots 22, andcouple the hooks 282a, 282b in the slots 22 to the adapter blocks 280a,280b with the screws 286.

Therefore, the structural members 20, 20a can be fixed to each other ata desired angle with the joint mechanism according to this embodiment.The joint mechanism according to this embodiment may be connected toangularly movable members such as door hinges, for example. FIG. 7 showsa preferable example in which structural members may be joined by jointmechanisms according to this embodiment.

A joint mechanism according to yet still another embodiment of thepresent invention is illustrated in FIGS. 16 through 25. For using thejoint mechanism according to this embodiment, the structural members 20,20a have substantially circular recesses 334, 334a defined in mutuallyclose regions thereof near their confronting ends for receiving firstand second engaging members 330, 332, respectively, shown in FIGS. 17and 18.

As shown in FIG. 17, the joint mechanism for joining the structuralmembers 20, 20a comprises a first engaging member 330 having a disk 342of substantially circular cross section and a pair of substantiallytriangular fingers 344 integrally formed with and angularly spaced 180°from each other on an outer circumferential surface of the disk 342, anda second engaging member 332 having a disk-shaped head 346 and a bar 348of prismatic shape integrally formed with the head 346.

The first engaging member 330 has a hole 350 of regular hexagonal shapedefined substantially centrally in an upper surface thereof, and asubstantially circular hole 352 defined in a lower surface thereofeccentrically with respect to, i.e., out of coaxial alignment with, thehole 350. Since the circular hole 352 is off-center, the thickness of awall extending around the circular hole 352 progressively varies from asmaller wall thickness to a greater wall thickness. The end of the bar348 of the second engaging member 332 which is remote from the head 346has a hook 354 that has a curved surface held snugly against a curvedinner wall surface of the hole 352. The structural members 20, 20ashould preferably be made of a metallic material, and the first andsecond engaging members 330, 332 should preferably be made of aluminumalloy, stainless steel, carbon steel, molybdenum steel, or the like, andmanufactured by precision casting, precision (cold) forging, lost-waxprocess, metal powder injection sintering, or the like. The first andsecond engaging members 330, 332 thus produced have a high strength,require no substantial subsequent machining, and are light in weight andlow in cost.

The joint mechanism according to this embodiment operates as follows andoffers the following advantages:

First, the second engaging member 332 is inserted into the structuralmember 20a along one of the slots 22 therein. The head 346 of the secondengaging member 332 is fitted into the substantially circular hole 334a,and lies flush with the structural member 20a, whereupon the secondengaging member 332 is retained in the slot 22 in the structural member20a. Specifically, the lower surface of the second engaging member 332abuts against the bottom surface 27 of the slot 22, and the uppersurface of the second engaging member 332 lies flush with the uppersurface of the structural member 20a. Accordingly, the second engagingmember 332 is mounted in the slot 22 without projecting out of thestructural member 20a. Since the second engaging member 332 does notpresent an obstacle when the structural members 20, 20a are assembledtogether, it allows a space around the structural members 20, 20a to beutilized effectively.

Then, the end of the other structural member 20 is brought closely tothe end of the structural member 20a substantially in line therewith.With the hook 354 of the second engaging member 332 being held inengagement with the inner wall surface of the substantially circularhole 352 in the first engaging member 330, the first engaging member 330is inserted into the substantially circular recess 334 that communicateswith one of the slots 22 in the structural member 20, until the firstengaging member 330 in the substantially circular recess 334 lies flushwith the structural member 20. At this time, the inner wall surface ofthe recess 352 in the lower surface of the first engaging member 330 isheld in engagement with the curved surface of the hook 354 on the end ofthe second engaging member 332, and the fingers 344 on the outercircumferential surface of the disk 342 of the first engaging member 330are inserted in the slot 22 along its longitudinal axis.

After the first engaging member 330 is inserted into the recess 334, thetip end of a tool such as a hexagonal wrench is fitted into the hole 350in the first engaging member 330, and turned in the direction indicatedby the arrow in FIG. 19. When the first engaging member 330 is angularlymoved until the fingers 344 abut against wall surfaces of the enlargedportion 26 of the slot 22 around the recess 334, the thickness of thewall of the first engaging member 330 which engages the curved surfaceof the hook 354 changes from the smaller wall thickness to the greaterwall thickness. Therefore, the first engaging member 330 applies forcestending to pull the second engaging member 332 in the directionindicated by the arrow X in FIG. 20, displacing the second engagingmember 332 in the direction indicated by the arrow X. The fingers 344can easily be turned because the disk 342 of the first engaging member330 is retained in the substantially circular recess 334 in thestructural member 20.

At the time the fingers 344 of the first engaging member 330 are heldagainst the wall surfaces of the enlarged portion 26 of the slot 22, thefirst engaging member 330 is securely retained in the slot 22 in thestructural member 20.

As a consequence, the first engaging member 330 and the second engagingmember 332 engage each other, firming joining the structural members 20,20a to each other. Joint mechanisms according to this embodiment may bemounted on two opposite side surfaces, respectively, of the structuralmembers 20, 20a as shown in FIG. 20. Alternatively, joint mechanismsaccording to this embodiment may be mounted on three or four sidesurfaces, respectively, of the structural members 20, 20a for moresecurely joining the structural members 20, 20a for greater rigidity.Since the joint mechanism joins the structural members 20, 20a using atleast one of the slots 22 defined in the respective four side surfacesof each of the structural members 20, 20a, the first and second engagingmembers 330, 332 may be mounted on a desired selected one of the fourside surfaces of each of the structural members 20, 20a. Consequently,even if certain side surfaces of the structural members 20, 20a are notavailable because of limitations imposed by the conditions in which theyare installed, the joint mechanism may be mounted on other availableunlimited side surfaces of the structural members 20, 20a for therebyjoining the structural members 20, 20a to each other.

FIG. 21 shows in perspective the structural members 20, 20a joined toeach other by the joint mechanism, with various pipe joints 356, 358,360, 362, 364 connected thereto in communication with the first passages30 and the second passages 32a-32d. In order to connect the L-shapedpipe joint 362 and the pipe joint 362, holes (not shown) havingrespective diameters corresponding to those of the pipe joints 360, 362are defined in the bottom 27 of the corresponding slot 22. To connectthe pipe joint 364, a hole is defined in a side surface of thestructural member 20a.

FIG. 22 shows in perspective the joined structural members 20, 20a shownin FIG. 21, with an insert 366 interposed between the structural members20, 20a. As shown in FIG. 23, the insert 366 comprises a substantiallyH-shaped block 368 having a first through hole 370 defined substantiallycentrally therein in communication with the first passage 30 in each ofthe structural members 20, 20a and supporting tubes 372a˜372d projectingfrom a surface thereof near respective four corners thereof incommunication with the second passages 32a˜32d in each of the structuralmembers 20, 20a. The tubes 372a˜372d have respective through passagesextending from one surface to the other of the block 368, and alsoproject from the opposite surface thereof. The insert 366 has a pair ofsubstantially rectangular recesses 374 defined in respective oppositeside surfaces thereof for receiving the bar 348 of the second engagingmember 332.

The insert 366 also has a second through hole 376 defined therein whichextends perpendicularly to the axis of the first through hole 370 incommunication therewith, the second through hole 376 opening at oppositeside surfaces of the insert 366. The second through hole 376 includes areduced-diameter through hole 376a (see FIGS. 24 and 25) extending froma region where the second through hole 376 communicates with the firstthrough hole 370. The second through hole 376 is internally threaded atan inlet end thereof, so that a pipe joint, for example, can easily beconnected to the second through hole 376 by being threaded into theinternally threaded inlet end of the second through hole 376. Seals 378,379 are mounted in annular grooves defined around the first through hole370 and the tubes 372a˜372d for allowing the first through hole 370 andthe tubes 372a˜372d to be hermetically connected to the structuralmembers 20, 20a.

For coupling the insert 366 between the structural members 20, 20a, theinsert 366 is placed between the confronting ends of the structuralmembers 20, 20a, and the tubes 372a˜372d projecting toward the ends ofthe structural members 20, 20a are fitted into the second passages32a˜32d in the structural members 20, 20a, before the first and secondengaging members 330, 332 are installed. As a result, the first passages30 in the structural members 20, 20a communicate with each other throughthe first through hole 370, and communication passages defined in thestructural members 20, 20a along the axes thereof communicate with thesecond through hole 376, 376a perpendicular to the first through hole370. The first engaging member 330 and the second engaging member 332are installed in the same manner as described above, and hence theprocess of installing the first engaging member 330 and the secondengaging member 332 will not be described in detail below.

A joint mechanism for joining structural members according to a furtherembodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 26 through 31.

The joint mechanism according to this embodiment is different from thejoint mechanism according to the preceding embodiment in that a secondengaging member 380 has a substantially T-shaped head 382 (see FIGS. 26and 27), and the joint mechanism is used to join the structural members20, 20a substantially perpendicularly to each other (see FIG. 28). Thejoint mechanism has a first engaging member 330 which is of a structurethat is substantially identical to the first engaging member 330according to the preceding embodiment.

For joining the structural members 20, 20a to each other, the head 382of the second engaging member 380 is inserted from an end of thestructural member 20a into one of the slots 22 therein. Alternatively,after the head 382 is inserted longitudinally into the slot 22, the head382 may be turned about 90° so as to be mounted in the slot 22. Then,the first engaging member 330 is inserted into the slot 22 such that theinner wall surface of the substantially circular hole 352 in the firstengaging member 330 engages the curved surface of the hook 354 on an endof the second engaging member 380. At this time, the first engagingmember 330 is retained in the substantially circular recess 334 in theslot 22, and the first engaging member 330 is inserted so as to alignthe fingers 344 with the slot 22, as indicated by the solid lines inFIG. 28. Since the circular hole 352 is off-center, the thickness of thewall extending around the circular hole 352 progressively varies fromthe smaller wall thickness to the greater wall thickness. When the firstengaging member 330 is then angularly moved a predetermined angle, thefingers 344 of the first engaging member 330 are angularly displaced thepredetermined angle as indicated by the broken lines in FIG. 28. As aresult, as shown in FIG. 30, the thicker wall portion of the firstengaging member 330 abuts against the curved surface of the hook 354 ofthe second engaging member 380, pulling the second engaging member 380in the direction indicated by the arrow X. Therefore, the structuralmember 20a is pulled in the direction indicated by the arrow X, andjoined and fixed perpendicularly to the other structural member 20. Asshown in FIG. 31, joint mechanisms according to the present embodimentmay be mounted respectively on upper and lower surfaces of thestructural member 20 to firmly join the structural members 20, 20a withincreased rigidity.

FIGS. 32 through 35 show a joint mechanism for joining structuralmembers according to a yet still further embodiment of the presentinvention. The joint mechanism according to this embodiment is used tojoin the structural members 20, 20a substantially perpendicularly toeach other.

As shown in FIG. 32, the joint mechanism comprises first and secondengaging members 384, 386, and a screw 388 having a tapered tip end 387which is progressively smaller in diameter. The first engaging member384 has a pair of fingers 392 disposed on an outer circumferentialsurface of a cylinder 390 and angularly spaced 180° from each other. Thefirst engaging member 384 also has an internally threaded through hole394 defined centrally therein. The second engaging member 386 has asubstantially T-shaped head 396 and a flat plate 398 joined to the head396 and having a tapered recess 400 remote from the head 396.

For joining the structural members 20, 20a to each other, the head 396of the second engaging member 386 is inserted from an end of thestructural member 20a into one of the slots 22 therein. Alternatively,after the head 396 is inserted longitudinally into the slot 22, the head396 may be turned about 90° so as to be mounted in the slot 22. Then,the other structural member 20 is placed substantially perpendicularlyto the structural member 20a, and the flat plate 398 of the secondengaging member 286 which projects from the structural member 20a isinserted into the slot 22 in the other structural member 20.

The first engaging member 384 is inserted into the substantiallycircular recess 334 in the slot 22 in the structural member 20. Sincethe diameter of the substantially circular recess 334 is substantiallythe same as the diameter of the cylinder 390, the first engaging member384 is retained in the recess 334. At this time, the first engagingmember 384 is inserted so as to align the fingers 392 with the slot 22.

Then, the screw 388 is threaded into the internally threaded throughhole 394 that is defined substantially centrally in the first engagingmember 384. As the screw 388 is threaded in, the first engaging member384 is angularly moved in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG.33, bringing the fingers 392 into abutment against the wall surfaces ofthe enlarged portion 26 of the slot 26, whereupon the first engagingmember 384 is retained in the slot 22, as indicated by the broken linesin FIG. 33. When the screw 388 is further threaded in, the tapered tipend 387 of the screw 388 engages in the tapered recess 400 in the flatplate 398 (see FIG. 34), pressing a slanting surface of the taperedrecess 400. As a result, the second engaging member 386 is displaced inthe direction indicated by the arrow X by the pressing action of thetapered tip end 387. The structural member 20a is pulled in thedirection indicated by the arrow X, and joined and fixed perpendicularlyto the other structural member 20. As shown in FIG. 35, joint mechanismsaccording to the present embodiment may be mounted respectively on upperand lower surfaces of the structural member 20 to firmly join thestructural members 20, 20a with increased rigidity.

FIGS. 36 through 39 show a joint mechanism for joining structuralmembers according to another embodiment of the present invention. Aswith the two previous embodiments, the joint mechanism according to thisembodiment is used to join the structural members 20, 20a substantiallyperpendicularly to each other.

The joint mechanism has a pair of engaging members 408a, 408b eachhaving a substantially T-shaped head 402 and a tapered member 406including an internally threaded through hole 404 and a tapered surface405 which is progressively smaller in diameter. The joint mechanism alsohas a substantially cylindrical sleeve 410 interposed between theengaging members 408a, 408b. The sleeve 410 has a pair of oppositetapered surfaces 412 each inclined at a slightly smaller angle than thetapered surface 405, and a through hole 414 defined therein between theopposite tapered surfaces 412. A bolt 416 extends through the throughholes 404 in the engaging members 408a, 408b and the hole 414 in thesleeve 410. The hole 414 in the sleeve 410 has a diameter greater thanthe diameter of the bolt 416.

For joining the structural members 20, 20a to each other, the heads 402of the engaging members 408a, 408b are inserted from an end of thestructural member 20a into one of the slots 22 therein. Then, the otherstructural member 20 is placed substantially perpendicularly to thestructural member 20a, and the tapered members 406 of the engagingmembers 408a, 408b are inserted respectively into the substantiallycircular recesses 334 in the slots 22 defined respectively in the upperand lower surfaces of the structural member 20. The sleeve 410 is fittedin a through hole that is defined transversely in the structural member20 between the slots 22, the through hole having a diametercorresponding to the diameter of the sleeve 410.

Then, the bolt 416 is inserted into the tapered members 406 of theengaging members 408a, 408b and the sleeve 410 (see FIG. 38). When thebolt 416 is threaded in, the tapered surfaces 405 of the engagingmembers 408a, 408b are drawn into the sleeve 410 along the taperedsurfaces 412 thereof. As a consequence, the heads 402 of the engagingmembers 408a, 408b exert forces tending to pull the structural member20a in the direction indicated by the arrow X, joining and fixing thestructural member 20a to the other structural member 20 (see FIG. 39).

FIG. 40 shows the structural member 20 with a cover 23 of substantiallychannel-shaped cross section being mounted in one of the slots 22 whichis used as a wiring passage for a lead 418.

A pair of locking members 420a, 420b for locking the lead 418 is mountedin the slot 22 in the structural member 20, and a connector 422 with aplurality of terminals is connected to an end of the lead 418.

The joint mechanisms according to the present invention offer thefollowing advantages:

The passage communication member is used simply to keep the passage inone of the structural members in communication with the passage in theother structural member.

With the passages in the structural members being held in communicationwith each other by the passage communication member, the first engagingmember inserted in the recess in one of the structural members and thesecond engaging member retained in the slot in the other structuralmember are coupled to each other by the fastening member. Therefore, thestructural members can easily be joined and fixed to each other.Consequently, the period of time that is required to join the structuralmembers is greatly reduced, and the efficiency with which the structuralmembers are joined is increased.

Because the passage communication member and the first and secondengaging members are simple in structure, they can be manufacturedinexpensively on a mass-production basis.

Furthermore, one of the joint mechanisms according to the presentinvention allows the structural members to be joined to each other forangular movement about the shaft. It is possible to join and fix thestructural members to each other as they have been angularly moved adesired angle about the shaft.

The first and second knuckles and the blocks can be attached to eachother at a given angle established by the angle setting means.Therefore, the structural members can be joined and fixed to the eachother as they have been twisted relatively to each other.

The joint mechanism may be connected to angularly movable members suchas door hinges, for example, and the angularly movable members may beangularly displaced about the shaft.

According to the present invention, furthermore, the structural memberscan easily be joined to each other in line with or perpendicularly toeach other by the first engaging member and the second engaging memberwhich are of simple structure. The labor that is needed to join thestructural members to each other can be reduced, the period of time thatis required to joint the structural members to each other can beshortened, so that the efficiency of assembling the structural memberscan be increased.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The joint mechanisms for joining structural members according to thepresent invention may be used in a wide range of applications, e.g., tojoin structural members that are used in fluid pressure circuits andmachines, components, apparatus, etc. which employ fluid pressure.

We claim:
 1. A joint mechanism for joining together two structuralmembers in abutting relationship to each other, each of said structuralmembers having a slot defined in at least one side surface thereof and alongitudinally extending passage defined therein, comprising:a passagecommunication member; said passage communication member comprising atubular body mounted in one passage defined in one of the structuralmembers thereby retaining said tubular body in said one passage, and ahead retained in the slot defined in the other of the structuralmembers, said passage communication member further comprising a throughhole defined therein extending through said tubular body and said head,said through hole keeping said one passage defined in one of thestructural members and another passage defined in the other of thestructural members in communication with each other, said passagecommunication member having dimensions such that said structural membersabut each other when the passage communication member is fitted to bothsaid structural members; and means for holding said structural membersin abutment.
 2. A joint mechanism according to claim 1, wherein saidhead includes a projection on an end thereof, said projection beingfitted into a hole defined in the other of the structural members, saidhole communicating with the passage defined in the other of thestructural members.
 3. A joint mechanism according to claim 2, furthercomprising a sealing member mounted on a surface of said head aroundsaid projection.
 4. A joint mechanism according to claim 1, wherein saidhead includes a pair of flat surfaces defined on respective sidesthereof, whereby said head can be inserted into said slot in onedirection and then rotated for securing said head inside said slot.
 5. Ajoint mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said tubular body includesan annular groove, and further comprising a seal disposed in saidannular groove.
 6. A joint mechanism according to claim 1, wherein saidtubular body is mounted in said one passage on an end of said one of thestructural members, and said head is mounted in the slot in the other ofsaid structural members, said slot being defined in a side surface ofthe other of said structural members, whereby the end of said one of thestructural members is held in said abutment against said side surface ofthe other of the structural members.
 7. A joint mechanism according toclaim 1, wherein means for holding said structural members in abutmentcomprises:a first engaging member inserted in a recess defined incommunication with the slot in said one of the structural members; asecond engaging member retained in the slot defined in the other of thestructural members; and a bolt coupling said first engaging member andsaid second engaging member to each other.
 8. A joint mechanismaccording to claim 7, wherein said first engaging member is disposed insaid recess at a position adjacent an end of said one of the structuralmembers, and said second engaging member is retained in the slot in theother of said structural members, said slot being defined in a sidesurface of the other of said structural members, whereby the end of saidone of the structural members is held in said abutment against said sidesurface of the other of the structural members.